Chhattisgarh: Security Forces Eliminate 12 Maoists in Bijapur Encounter

Bijapur- A significant anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district has resulted in the deaths of 12 Maoists during an ongoing encounter with security forces in the National Park area. The operation comes at a crucial time as the region prepares for upcoming Panchayat elections.

This engagement follows closely on the heels of another successful operation on January 31, where eight Maoists were killed. That operation involved a coordinated effort by multiple security forces, including the District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and its specialized CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit. The joint operation was initiated following intelligence about the presence of West Bastar division Maoist cadres in the area.

These operations align with the central government's ambitious goal to eliminate Naxalism by 2026, a commitment Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed on January 6. His statement came after a tragic incident where eight District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans and a driver lost their lives in an IED blast triggered by Maoists on the Bedre-Kutru Road in Bijapur. The victims were returning in a Scorpio following a joint operation involving forces from Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bijapur.

The intensified anti-Maoist campaign has shown significant results in 2024, with 49 Maoists killed in various encounters across Chhattisgarh. The Bastar division, comprising seven districts including Bijapur, accounts for 33 of these casualties. A notable operation in the Gariaband district of Raipur division on January 20-21 resulted in 16 Maoist casualties.

These recent operations build upon the substantial progress made in 2023, during which security forces neutralized 219 Maoists in various encounters across the state, demonstrating the government's sustained effort to combat Maoist insurgency in the region.